The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Wednesday launched a code of ethics and conduct to promote integrity, fairness, transparency, and to guide staff in their work, in Accra.

Mr. George Blankson, Commissioner-General of GRA, said the code would redefine operations of staff and adopt zero tolerance to malfeasance or misconduct.

“We need to make a firm commitment both individually and collectively to the virtues of honesty, integrity and commitment to your jobs, and these virtues must be renewed on daily basis so that we can confront any emerging realities or challenges in our work environment,” Mr. Blankson said.

He said the staff must consider integrity as a major component of the organisational change and that GRA needed to promote a culture-based integrity programme that would guide and explain the expectations of behaviour, values and ethics of workers.

Mr. Blankson said GRA would be transparent in enforcing the code, and decisions reached would be based on fair, objective criteria devoid of discrimination.

“We will strive to apply the provisions in this document consistently and ensure that all staff avail themselves to the appeals or grievance procedures,” he said, and added that the rights of staff would be fully respected.

However, he warned that management of the Authority would not compromise misconduct that had the potential of tarnishing the image of GRA.

Mr. Blankson called on GRA management and staff to cooperate, and stressed that the code of ethics and conduct was a consensual document that reflected both management and staff's commitment to transform GRA into a formidable and competitive tax administration.

In a speech read on his behalf, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said sanctions that were provided in the code for various misconducts must be followed to the letter in the spirit of fairness.

“The code of ethics and conduct must provide the basis for identifying all conduct that is at variance with the vision and mission of GRA to be investigated, needless to say that this must be done in fair and transparent manner,” he said.

Dr. Duffuor assured the GRA management that Government would offer the needed assistance to "protect and defend all staff in the spirit and letter of the Code of Ethics and Conduct”.**